The driver flicked a quick smile at Vin, so fast he almost doubted he’d seen the expression. “If you’d like young sir, I’m sure it can be arranged. If you’d please pack an overnight case. Master Loren would appreciate your presence for the entire weekend.”

“I just bet he would,” Jessie muttered. “We’ll be with you in a moment.”

“I’ll wait in the car. It is parked right outside,” the driver said.

“Thanks,” Vin offered. Frankly the chauffeur creeped him a bit out.

They waited until the door closed behind Jeff.

Vin let out a breath. “Are you really going to come with me?”

“Are you kidding? I’m your best friend I wouldn’t leave you in my uncle’s clutches. I’m not that cruel. He needs to know someone is watching out for you or he’ll walk all over you.”

Loren didn’t strike Vin as the type to do that but what did he know except that he really wanted to be in the vampire’s bed again. He’d pretty much agree to anything if it would get him back in the guy’s bed. He didn’t share that tidbit with Jessie as they packed over night bags.

Loren’s gaze kept returning to the door. He tried to pretend interest in the meeting but really it wasn’t there.

“He’ll be here in ten minutes.” Mark commented. “I just got a call from Jeff. They’re on their way.”

“Jessie coming too?” His nephew had proven very protective of his young friend. Loren would have to sit his relative down and explain the new hands off policy when it came to his roommate. He didn’t know if the two men ever had any romantic interest in each other but if they did before it was over. No one touched Vin but him.

“He didn’t want his friend to get lonely,” Mark said.

“Uh huh. Find him a room as far from me as possible.”

Mark laughed. “Yes Master Loren. Are you sure about this?”

Loren lowered the collar of his shirt. A handprint showed in a silvery outline along his collarbone. “He marked me. I’m his.”

“I always thought it would be the other way around,” Mark said. “But you let some young wizard kid tag you like graffiti art.”

“He’s my mate,” Loren said never so certain of anything else in his life. “He can cover me with designs if he wants to.”

Mark snorted. “I didn’t think I’d ever see the day when you fell for someone.”

Loren narrowed his eyes at his guard. “Is there some reason you won’t give my mate the respect he deserves?”

Mark paled. “No sir.”

“I didn’t think so. Consider your future in the coven. If you can’t respect my mate I will have you transferred elsewhere.”

Mark bowed. “I will watch my words.”

“See that you do.” I couldn’t hide my disdain. There would be enough problems without dissenters in my coven. My new mate might not be what I expected but he crackled with power and I would need all my expertise to keep the balance between my wizard and the vampires. If they made me choose they wouldn’t like the results.”

The front door opened. A wave of electricity poured over me as he entered the building. His aura crossed the path ahead of him. His green eyes, bright with passion before, were now hooded with caution.

Still, he walked up to me as if he too felt the pull and couldn’t bear to be parted.

Unedited preview:
This is coming up in Sept/Oct (see for once I have an almost date) BWAHAHAHA
Dreamspinner Press will be publishing my first book over 60k a steampunkish/fantasy book.

* * * *

Bong

Bong

Bong

The clamoring bell from the Lock Tower filtered into my dreams, a loud, obnoxious nudge reminding me to wake up and begin my day. My name is Octavius Septimus Stalk. My friends call me Oss, and my enemies hide from my blades. Stab one key keeper for grabbing your ass and you never live down a violent reputation.

The brush of warm lips across my bare shoulder pulled my attention to my bedmate. I always go from slumber to full alert with little space for sluggish-headedness in between. Growing up a street rat gave me certain habits I doubt I’ll ever be able to break. My instant alert ability, the most minor of my infractions, came in handy when Thorne wished to give me a proper send-off for the day.

“Morning, love.” Hawthorne Smith, Thorne to me, had a deep voice that shivered down my spine like vibrations from the tolling of the Tower bell. I’d stood next to it once while it rang, hiding out from guards. They’d stopped their pursuit at the bottom of the stairs—wiser than me I suspect, and happy to keep their hearing. Two days later my eardrums were still ringing.

Thorne had a similar effect on me. I could still feel his hands roaming my body days after we’ve made love. He’s lasted the longest of any of my partners, if rushed gropings in a dark alley counted as partners. Thorne has assured me it doesn’t. He’s certain I need no one else and is determined to keep me sated enough I seek no others.

“Morning.” I don’t repeat the endearment. I’ve grown fond of Thorne in the three months we’ve been warming each other’s beds, but love took longer than that, or it should. I don’t know anyone in love, so it is only guesswork on my part. Growing up on the streets didn’t lend itself to being a trusting, loving person. My cold nature has scared off more than one potential lover before we’d even reached a properly dark bit of street to relieve some tension.

Thorne traced a finger down my back. My body jerked like a marionette dancing along a string. Thorne knew how to be a proper puppet master. Groaning, I pushed back into his touch. I craved my man. Deep down I hoped to keep him, but I buried that ambition in the darkest corner of my mind along with all my other dreams and expectations. The Lord of the Keys didn’t easily grant scrubby key keepers their heart’s desire. If Thorne stayed mine until the next quarter cycle, I’d consider myself blessed.

“Hey, did you go back to sleep?” Thorne rolled me onto my back. I smiled at the vision above me.

I dare anyone to wake up to that face and not feel their heart hiccup at the sight. Thorne had the golden tan of a city guard. The sun didn’t just kiss Thorne, it used its tongue and devoured him in its shiny embrace. Thorne’s skin had the burnished glow only a man working outdoors could acquire and hard thick muscles from pulling himself up rope ladders to reach the dirigible ships.

Becoming a guard took dedication, and Thorne had only one more level before he reached Master of the Guard. Pride for him had my lips parting in a smile.

“I was thinking of you.” I winced over my words. They sounded far more foolish aloud than drifting through my head.

“Good. I want you to always think about me.” Thorne’s green eyes sparkled down at me like the rare glass in the church windows. He grabbed my hips and dragged me closer as if he couldn’t stand the two inches of space between us.

I melted a bit at his show of strength. I had always prized my smaller form for my ability to squeeze through tiny spaces, but I didn’t wish the same shape for my lover. I preferred my bedmates big and strong. The green eyes and cocky smile were optional but greatly appreciated. Inhaling deeply, I breathed in his scent of cinnamon and sunshine, an odd combination but one I always thought of when near Thorne.

“What the hell are you talking about?” He’d had just enough of his friend yelling and punching him.

“That hot dude you hooked up with last night?”

“Yeah,” Vin couldn’t stop the smile spreading across his face.

“He’s my uncle.”

“No!” Vin replayed the encounter in his mind. “There’s no way he’s anyone’s uncle.”

“He’s old, man, like three hundred or something.”

Vin covered his mouth with his hand. “Oh my god!”

Jessie leaned back in his seat, a smug smile on his face. “Now how do you feel about your hot piece of ass?”

Replaying the night in his head Vin became hard again.

Jessie wrinkled his nose. “Eww, dude, just eww.”

Vin shrugged. “I can’t help it. I’ve never been attracted to someone like that before. It was insane.”

“Maybe it was the beer. I’m thinking War gave us some fucked up alcohol to get us to taunt the weres.” Jessie gave Vin a considering look.

Vin grabbed that suggestion with both hand. “Maybe. We’ll talk to him when we get back.”

They went back to discussing sports and the upcoming parties until the limo pulled up to the dorm. Vin hung back when Jessie rushed off toward their building. “Would you tell Loren I’m sorry I had to ditch him for classes this morning?”

The driver nodded. “I will Master Vinson.”

“Um, thanks.” He didn’t know much about the master crap but he figured it was a vampire thing. He’d have to do some research on vampires. Jessie certainly wouldn’t be eager to help him out if he knew Vin harboured a crush for his uncle.

Despite learning Loren was way out of his league, Vin couldn’t help his mind wandering back to that night. The week passed quickly, all his classes blurring together as he drifted through them.

“What’s wrong with you man?” Jessie asked when Vin turned down an invitation to go to a party at the local frat house.

Vin shrugged. “I’ve had this headache all fucking week. Nothing seems to help.”

Jessie sat beside Vin on his bed. Concern etched on his face. He pressed a hand to Vin’s forehead. “How are you eating?”

“A little nauseous to tell you the truth. Nothing’s really settled with me this week.”

Jessie swallowed loudly in the quiet of their room. “How are you sleeping? Having any dreams?”

Vin blushed. “I don’t think you want to hear about my dreams.”

“My uncle?” Jessie guessed.

Vin nodded.

“Fuck.” Jessie threw himself back on Vin’s bed.

“What’ wrong?”

“You bonded with my uncle. I hope you meant what you said about the attraction because you are officially the mate of the most powerful vampire in North America,” Jessie announced, flinging his arm over his eyes.

Vin grabbed Jessie’s wrist and pulled down his arm. “What are you talking about?”

“It’s a gazillion in one fucking chance!” Jessie shouted jumping to his feet. “Most vampires never find their mates. My uncle has been waiting three hundred years and you walk in and claim him!”

“Jessie, dude, could you please stop a minute and at least try to make sense?” Vin’s head hurt and Jessie shouting wasn’t making it any easier.

“Master Loren would like your presence at dinner this evening.”

Jessie and Vin jumped to their feet. The chauffeur who’d driven them to the college the previous week stood in their doorway.

“Hey Jeff,” Jessie said casually.

Vin could see the tension in his friend’s body. “Is he okay,” he whispered.

The door closed softly behind Mark as he left the room. The vampire guard always watched Loren while he rested. All the council had protection. There were five vampires responsible for the vampire leadership. Loren was the leader given the right by hereditary status. The other four were elected. Loren could overrule any decision but he never did without a good reason. If they thought they could vote over his lover they could go soak their heads.

“Shh, don’t worry so much. Sleep.”

Loren opened his mouth to say something but darkness took over and he plunged into rest.

* * * *

Vin woke from the most amazing dream where he had sex with a gorgeous vampire who he chose as his own. The soft breath against his neck had him wiggling in his semi-sleep. His cock hardened with morning wood and the close connection with a body in his bed.

Opening his eyes, he rubbed them to verify the truth.

Crap!

It had all been real. He knew that beer allergy would come back and bite him in the ass some day he just hadn’t expected it to happen so soon. Sometimes when he consumed hops it did strange things to his magic. This time it apparently made him lose his ever-loving mind.

The urge to kiss the soft lips temptingly near to his own had Vin clenching his fists against the need. He bit his lip to hold back the whimper. With slow, careful motions he disengaged his body from the sexy vampire holding him cherishingly close.

He could do this. He could escape before whoever the guy was woke up. Glancing around he didn’t spot his clothes.

Oh right. The memory of zapping them off flashed before him like a horror movie rerun.

Gathering his power he imagined his closet at the dorm. Rifling through the clothes he selected a pair of jeans and a faded sweatshirt. A quick pull of power had them tumbling on the floor before him.

Another had his favourite pair of sneakers beside them.

He’d deal with underwear when he got back to the dorm. Right now he needed to escape as quietly as possible. Dressing quickly he headed for the door only to freeze.

Damn.

He cursed long and silently as he watched the beautiful man slumber. Curling his toes in his sneakers he resisted the siren call of the bed. He’d never had this level of desire with any of his other lovers. Of course he’d never had the compulsion to attack any of them and haul them off to bed either.

Another step to the door had him stalling. He couldn’t leave without a note or anything. He wasn’t that much of a bastard. The guy had given him a great fuck and held him all night.

Vin wasn’t the type of asshole to fuck and run.

Whispering softly he gathered his magic like water in his cupped hands. Concentrating closely a red rose formed, gold lined each petal. A wave of his hand had it floating to the empty pillow Vin left behind.

Satisfied his one night stand wouldn’t feel abandoned, Vin left the room. Closing the door as silently as possible he turned to leave.

“Going somewhere?” A six-foot two behemoth with an extra serving of muscles stood to one side of the door.

“Yeah I’ve got to get back to school now.” Vin nodded to the guy and tried to move past him.

“Go down the stairs a driver will take you and Jessie back to school.”

“Cool,” Vin didn’t ask any questions. He’d ask Jessie about last night on their way back to campus.

When he reached the bottom of the stairs. Jessie silently handed over Vin’s bag and led the way out the front door. To Vin’s surprise Jessie didn’t talk until they were well on their way back to school.

“My uncle, Vin! Really? Why did you have to pick my uncle?”

“What are you talking about?” Vin frowned at Jessie’s outburst.

Jessie’s mouth dropped open. “You really don’t know, do you?”

Vin blew out a breath making his hair float up out of his face. “Are you going to talk in puzzles because I really didn’t get much sleep.”

Jessie held up a hand. “I don’t really want to hear about your little amount of sleep, okay.”

Elliott flung the pencil across the room. Planting his face in his hands he rubbed at his temple with his index fingers. The headaches had been worse lately. Even the air held a heavy weight against his skin. He kept his eyes closed to block out the light. Even dimmed the lights pierced his head.

He missed Parker. His mate had gone out of town leaving Elliott alone. It shouldn’t have been a big deal. As an introvert Elliott enjoyed being alone but he preferred to be alone with Parker.

He slid his right hand down to play with the links on his necklace, Parker’s necklace. The jewelry his mate had given so he always knew he was always on Parker’s mind. For a hard-eyed dominant Parker had a gentler side he only shared with Elliott. If he concentrated on Parker he could speak telepathically to his mate but he didn’t know what job Anthony had sent him on and Elliott didn’t dare interrupt Parker during a crucial time. What if he was chasing down a bad guy and Elliott distracted him?

“I knew I should’ve taken you with me.” Parker’s rich voice jerked Elliott out of his deep contemplation.

“Parker.” Elliott jumped up out of the chair, headache vanishing with the sight of his mate. He didn’t think twice before leaping into Parker’s arms.

“Generally I’d expect more decorum but I missed you to.”

Elliott would’ve spoke. Maybe argued in his defense but Parker didn’t seem upset if the hard kiss he pressed against Elliott’s mouth was any indication. Several minutes passed before Parker finished greeting Elliott. He melted against his mate uncaring if someone walked through the door and got an eyeful. They were always watching Elliott askance anyway, worried Parker would crush them if they upset Elliott. He’d tried to tell them Parker wasn’t like that but Parker intimidated more successfully than Elliott persuaded.

“How did the trip go?”

“I hunted down the mutant that was trying to set everything on fire.” Parker’s grim expression had Elliott sighing.

“You had to kill him didn’t you?”

Parker nodded. “There wasn’t any choice. He wasn’t really there any more.”

“I’m sorry.” Elliott knew Parker didn’t enjoy killing. People didn’t understand the toll it took on someone to kill another being.

Parker shrugged. “It took a while to hunt him. That’s why I’ve been gone so long.”

Two days. It shouldn’t have felt like eternity but it could’ve been longer.

“You do what you have to do.” He didn’t want Parker to feel bad about doing his job.

“I’ve talked to Silver and unless it’s an emergency they won’t send me out of town again.”

From their snatched conversations Elliott had learned the mutant had ran and Parker and Thomas had gone to chase after him.

“Thank you.”

Parker easily carried Elliott to the guest chair where he sat down Elliott and all. He pressed a kiss to Elliott’s forehead before he spoke. “Nothing is more important than you.”

Elliott rested his head on Parker’s shoulder. “I love you.”

Parker rubbed his hand along Elliott’s spine. “Love you back. Now let’s get you home and show you how much.”

“My day isn’t over yet?” He had a pile of paperwork he still hadn’t addressed.

“It is now. Anthony agreed to let you take the rest of the day off and all of tomorrow.”

“That was nice of him.” Any other person and Elliott might’ve suspected Parker bullied him into agreeing. No one bullied Anthony. Elliott could leave with a clear conscience. Sliding off Parker’s lap he grinned. “Then let’s go home and enjoy my time off.”

Since I’ve been working on edits I decided to give you a sneak peek of Keys. My first full length book will be out sept/oct

(Shhh don’t tell) If you are part of my private FB group you might’ve seen this before.

*note this is still not officially edited and subject to change*

Bong

Bong

Bong

The clamoring bell from the Lock Tower filtered into my dreams, a loud, obnoxious nudge reminding me to wake up and begin my day. My name is Octavius Septimus Stalk. My friends call me Oss and my enemies hide from my blades. Stab one key keeper for grabbing your ass and you never live down a violent reputation.

The brush of warm lips across my bare shoulder pulled my attention to my bedmate. I always go from slumber to full alert with little space for sluggish-headedness in between. Growing up a street rat gave me certain habits I doubt I’ll ever be able to break. My instant alert ability, the most minor of my infractions, came in handy when my lover wished to give me a proper send-off for the day.

“Morning, love.” Hawthorne Smith, Thorne to me, had a deep voice that shivered down my spine like vibrations from the tolling of the Tower bell. I’d stood next to it once while it rang, hiding out from guards. They’d stopped their pursuit at the bottom of the stairs—wiser than me I suspect, and happy to keep their hearing. Two days later my eardrums were still ringing.

Thorne had a similar effect on me. I could still feel his hands roaming my body days after we’ve made love. He’s lasted the longest of any of my partners, if rushed gropings in a dark alley counted as partners. Thorne has assured me it doesn’t. He’s certain I need no one else and is determined to keep me sated enough I seek no others.

“Morning.” I don’t repeat the endearment. I’ve grown fond of Thorne in the three months we’ve been warming each other’s beds, but love took longer than that or it should. I don’t know anyone in love so it is only guesswork on my part. Growing up on the streets didn’t lend itself to being a trusting, loving person. My cold nature has scared off more than one potential lover before we’d even reached a properly dark bit of street to relieve some tension.

Thorne traced a finger down my back. My body jerked like a marionette dancing along a string. My lover knew how to be a proper puppet master. Groaning, I pushed back into his touch. I craved my man. Deep down I hoped to keep him, but I buried that ambition in the darkest corner of my mind along with all my other dreams and expectations. The Lord of the Keys didn’t easily grant scrubby key keepers their heart’s desire. If Thorne stayed mine until the next quarter cycle, I’d consider myself blessed.

“Hey, did you go back to sleep?” Thorne rolled me onto my back. I smiled at the vision above me.

I dare anyone to wake up to that face and not feel their heart hiccup at the sight. Thorne had the golden tan of a city guard. The sun didn’t just kiss Thorne, it used its tongue and devoured him in its shiny embrace. Thorne’s skin had the burnished glow only a man working outdoors could acquire and hard, thick muscles from pulling himself up rope ladders to reach the dirigible ships.

Becoming a guard took dedication, and Thorne had only one more level before he reached Master of the Guard. Pride for him had my lips parting in a smile.

“I was thinking of you.” I winced over my words. They sounded far more foolish aloud than drifting through my head.

“Good. I want you to always think about me.” Thorne’s green eyes sparkled down at me like the rare glass in the church windows. He grabbed my hips and dragged me closer as if he couldn’t stand the two inches of space between us.

I melted a bit at his show of strength. I had always prized my smaller form for my ability to squeeze through tiny spaces, but I didn’t wish the same shape for my lover. I preferred my bedmates big and strong. The green eyes and cocky smile were optional but greatly appreciated. Inhaling deeply, I breathed in his scent of cinnamon and sunshine, an odd combination but one I always thought of when near my lover.

“Does your ego weigh you down when you climb up the ladders?” I asked, sliding my hand across his furred chest. Thorne had the body of a man not like my smooth skin that refused to sprout more than a few random hairs.

“You just need a vacation. What do you say we go on a trip next month? Get away from all of our worries.”

“Where?”

Silver shrugged. “Does it matter?”

Anthony thought of all the possible locations they could run away to then shrugged. “I guess not.”

Trin flashed into the room and landed on Silver’s lap. “Daddy, daddy!”

“Hi Trin.” Silver grabbed his son before he fell to the ground.

Trin’s cheeks, chin, and a good portion of his shirt were covered in chocolate.

“You were supposed to wait until after dinner to have your cake,” Anthony scolded.

“But it was good.” Trin grinned, treating them to the sight of his chocolate coated teeth.

“Well you’ll have to wait for your presents.”

Trin’s lower lip slid out. “That’s what grandpa Zeus said.”

Anthony sighed. “Figured out where I hid them did you?”

Trin nodded. “But I promised grandpa I’d stop looking because he said you’d take them all back.”

Anthony wouldn’t but if that little lie stopped his son from getting into his presents he’d go along with it. “What are we going to serve everyone now that you’ve eaten the cake?”

“Henry made two.” He held up two sticky crumb covered fingers.

“Smart man,” Silver said.

Anthony agreed. They said it takes a village to raise a child. In Trin’s case it took a pack of wolves and a wily god. Still, Anthony wouldn’t change anything about his son. “Go play. I’ll call you when it’s time for dinner.”

“Okay. Grandpa said he’d take me to ride a Pegasus.”

Before they could say anything else, Trin vanished.

“We should probably be concerned about that.” Anthony noted the chocolate streak across Silver’s shirt and grinned.

Silver followed his gaze. “Damn, want to come upstairs and help me change.”

Anthony laughed. “Sure, you might want to shower too. Chocolate can be hard to get off.”

Silver stood and pulled Anthony up after him. “Sounds like a two man job.”

Anthony slid his arm through Silver’s. “I’ve always preferred it that way.”

With a move similar to his son’s, Anthony transported them to the bedroom.

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